The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-12-15
ABOUT WASHINGTON.
Bills introduced IN Congress and their
Main Features.


Bills introduced IN Congress and their
Main Features.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-[regular.
After the presentation of a large num-
Der of petitions Morrill,, from the COM
mittee on finance, reported back the
senate bill to credit and pay to the
several states and territories and to
the District of Columbia all moneys
collected under the direct tax act of
the 5th of August, 1851. Calendar.
Mr.. Ingalls, introduced bills to re-
move the limitatation in the payment
of arrears of pensions, granting arrears
in certain cases to those penSioned by
special acts Of congress.
Other bills were introduced, among
them the following:
RE-SheEman-EoS preservation OF
woods and forests adjacent to the
sources of navigable rivers and their
aff1uents.
By Hoar-Constitutio amendment
for extension of congressional term
till the last Tuesday in April.
By Cullom-To amend Interstate
act, also for establishment and oper-
alton of a United States postal tele-
graph; also to equalize the rates of
pensions in certain cases; also to eX-
men and others under charge of United
States officers.
By Jones, of Ark.-Opening the
great Sioux reservation in Nebraska
to settlement.
By Frye To promote political prog
ress and commercial prosperity of the
American nation.
By Gray-To establish court of ap-
peals.
Platt offered resolution to amend
the rules so that hereafter the senate
shall consider and act upon treaties
and executive nominations in open
session except when otherwise ordered.
Referred to committee on rules.
Dolph called up the bill introduced
by him yesterday to provide for forti-
fcations and other sea coast line de-
to the committee on coast line defenses,
and the senate adjourned until to-mor-
/ row.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Irregular. J.
A large number of executive communi-
cations were laid before the house by
the speaker and appropriately referred;
and then, at 1910; the house took re-
cess until O'Clock.
After recess Speaker Carlisle, having
called Mr.. Mills, of Texas, to
Illinois, offered a resolution declar-
| ing that the following named gentle
men shall constitute the committee on
elections: Messrs. Crisp, chairman;
O'Ferrell, Cultivate, Berry. Marsh,
Head, johnson, of North Carolina,
O'NeilI, of Indiana, Moore, Rowell,
Houk, Cooper, Lyman, johnson, of In
diana, and Lodge. The resolution was
unanimously adopted.
The speaker, having resumed the
chair, directed that all papers in vari-
GUS contested election cases be re-
ferred to the committee just elected,
and then the house at Ito adjourned
until Friday.
TEXT OF SENATOR CULLoM's THREE
| IMPORTANT BILLS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-The postal
telegraph bill introduced by Senator
Culiom to-day established the United
States postal telegraph" as part Of
the postal system of the United States.
The intention is to connect the lines
with all cities where the, postal free
| delivery system prevails, but no add1-
tional facilities are to be provid-
ed in states already connected
with the trunk line until postal
telegraph Offices have been
established in every state and terri
tory. The system is to be constructed
| in straight lines as near as practicable,
but regard is to be taken OF cities that
will afford the best telegraphic facili-
ties to the public. The lines are to be
constructed by the engineer corps of
| the army and transferred to the custody
/ of the postmaSter-ge The poles
/ are to be of iron, the wires of copper
and all other materials of the best
| character. Eight wires are to
be strung ON the line from New York
| to Chicago and upon other lines. The
4 Of 10 n III
| the military service lines of the United
i States as far as expedient, and also to
make all necessary condemnations of
lands or buildings at fair compen-
sation= All disputes as to what is a
fair compensation are to be settled by
] the court of claims. The secretary is
| further authorized to construct, take
not including telegraph lines
shall be deemed necessary. The
compensation to be determined in the
same manner as condemnationS of
land. The sums of money necessary
for this purpose are appropriated by
the bill. A rate of 10 cents for each
twenty words and cents for each ad-
ditional ten words, is fixed for dis
tances under 500 miles. and an addi-
tional rate of cents for each $50 miles
over 500. A night rate of 80 cents and
a day rate of IS cents is fixed
for each 100 words transmitted
for newspapers, except that where
the same dispatch is dropped off at
% and SO cents respectively for each
dropped copy. The Office of director
general of telegraph is created as part
Of the postofice department. It is made
the duty of the postmaster-general to
report to congress after the passage OF
the act plan for the complete organi-
cation of the postal telegraph system
with detailed estimates of men and
money needed. Before the system is
put into operation and employees
selected, examinations are to be held
by the civil service commission to de
termine the fitness of applicants
/ Four million dollars is appropriated
for the location and construction OF the
telegraph lines provided for by the act
The bill introduced by Senator Cul
lom to-day to amend the interstate
commerce act embodies the most i'm
portant suggestions that have beer
? made for the correction OF defects il
the law including the recommendation
of the commissioners. The amendment
J are Voluminous and minute in lega
form. The following is synopsis o.
> their more important provisions:
: To extend the provision OF the act 81
| % W h4EAnO SttO oSS oPR4y W S0RAOoo
+ sleeping car, drawing room car, palac'
! car. stock car and tank car companies
I and ''any other companies, association
= or persons furnishing for public US
upon railroad cars and other instru
mentalities for the transportation o
R Tords or OF otbsPP Fope eaFyTiers an an
: inserted twice in the fifth section so a
to prohibit not only pooling between
different railroads. but between differ
emit railroads and others carriers
= Further authority is given to tn
. commission to fix the amount of com
pensation for damages. The provisio
Is Is also made to take the commissio
, out of the Jurisdiction Of the interio
# department and make independent an
. TO require it TO report direct to cor
!. gress as recommended by the secrs